Health - Nutrition. In which country do people eat together most often?

Family meals are so important that they're listed as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. And rightly so, since these convivial moments are excellent for your health.

A study conducted by researchers at University College London provides further evidence of this. They analyzed data from over 150,000 people in 142 countries. The results are clear: people who share meals more often report higher levels of life satisfaction.

A first

In concrete terms, those who always share their lunches and dinners rate themselves on average one point higher on a well-being scale of 0 to 10, compared to those who eat alone.

One point may not seem like a lot, but the researchers point out that it's a significant difference. For comparison, if the British gained one point on this scale, the United Kingdom would become the second happiest country in the world (currently Denmark, after Finland)!

“ This is the first time that data on meal sharing has been collected and analyzed on a global scale ,” said Dr. Alberto Prati of UCL, co-author of the study. “ We already knew the importance of social connections for well-being, but we were surprised by the strength of the link between meal sharing and positive evaluations and emotions. ”

Latin America and the Caribbean, champions of communal meals

The study also reveals geographic disparities. Latin America and the Caribbean are the champions of sharing, with nearly two-thirds of lunches and dinners eaten together. Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand follow closely behind. Conversely, South Asia shares fewer than four meals per week.

In the United States, an analysis of trends since 2003 shows an increase in the number of people eating alone, particularly among young people.

As you can see, beyond simply eating together, it's the social interaction that matters. Sharing a meal creates a moment of conviviality, sharing, and connection with others. It's an opportunity to chat, laugh, confide, and strengthen bonds. All of these are essential elements for our well-being.